QTLS? What's it all about?

QTLS/QTS/NQT...lots of acronyms but what do they actually mean?  The teaching profession seems to love making them to baffle teachers and it is all the more confusing for those new to the profession, like yourselves.  So what do they mean and what do you have to do to obtain them? Well hopefully this post will make things a bit clearer for you.

When a PGCE student graduates, their course either offers them QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) as an extension of their programme or you are required to apply for it separately.  To do this, the university needs certain awarding powers.  QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) however cannot currently be offered as part of a university programme (we are hoping this may change in the future) and has to be applied for separately.  Both QTS and QTLS have to be done in your professional formation year, also known as your NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) year.

The QTS or QTLS qualification aims to help newly qualified teachers apply their knowledge from their PGCE and apply it to their place of work, in the context of their subject.  It requires the NQT to develop a file/portfolio that demonstrates the quality of their teaching and learning in their first year of teaching, a bit like your PGCE PCET file but more work-based.

So, what's the difference between QTS and QTLS?

Well QTS was once the universal qualification for all teachers teaching in compulsory education, and technically still is the 'industry standard' or so to speak.  However the government decided that it wanted to professionalise FE (as previously to teach in FE and HE it was not compulsory to have a teaching qualification, and in some scenarios this is still the case) and this meant that it needed qualified teachers.  This is when QTLS was created, so that FE teachers could be on the same professional standing as Primary and Secondary teachers. 

Initially there was some confusion about the QTLS qualification- was it only applicable for teaching in FE or could you also teach in compulsory education?  Some head teachers would accept applications from teachers with QTLS and some wouldn't and this caused a lot of problems for newly qualified teachers when applying for jobs.  However, since April 2012, FE trained teachers with QTLS have been recognised in legislation as equivalent in status to teachers with QTS in schools. They are able to teach across all subjects and all ages on equal pay and conditions, opening up career development and wider employment opportunities.

So do you need QTS or QTLS?

Yes.  Most job advertisements in FE are asking for QTLS now, and all compulsory education jobs require either QTS or QTLS.  When applying for jobs it is worth putting in your personal statement that if successful you would embark on the QTS/QTLS programme- this proves your willingness to engage with professional development and that you strive for excellence in your teaching.  You cannot complete either qualification until you are working (this can include supply teaching) so employers will understand that you will not have these qualifications yet- so no need to panic.

Which one should I apply for?

Well it depends entirely upon where you end up working.  If you get a job in a secondary school teaching A Level and GCSE, the school will probably automatically enrol you on the QTS programme, if however you get a job in an FE college then you will probably be required to do the QTLS.  Since the law stipulates that there is parity between the two qualifications there is no need to worry about which one you do, as long as you do one to gain your fully qualified status.

What about HE?

Some of you may end up working in HE.  HE doesn't require you to have either QTS or QTLS (if you have it already when you get the job then don't worry- think of it as an added bonus).  HE has it's own CPD programmes such as the HEA Fellowship which similar to QTS and QTLS aims to promote excellence in teaching and requires a portfolio/file to be produced of evidence and essays.  You don't have to do the HEA Fellowship but more universities are promoting it and it has started appearing on job advertisements.

So, I hope this makes things a bit clearer! The Education and Training Foundation website has lots of information about QTLS and how to apply:
https://set.et-foundation.co.uk/professionalism/gaining-qtls/
The Department for Education also has information regarding QTS:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/qualified-teacher-status-qts

Any questions email suncett@sunderland.ac.uk